--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only thing standing between me and…" description: "\"The only thing standing between me and greatness is me.\" — Woody Allen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b66/woody-allen-176_greatness_the-only-thing-standing-between-me-and-g_2771020.jpg" --- # The only thing standing between me and greatness is me. ![“The only thing standing between me and greatness is me.” quote by Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b66/woody-allen-176_greatness_the-only-thing-standing-between-me-and-g_2771020.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b66/woody-allen-176_greatness_the-only-thing-standing-between-me-and-g_2771020.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b66/woody-allen-176_greatness_the-only-thing-standing-between-me-and-g_2771020.jpg) > “The only thing standing between me and greatness is me.” [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self-imposed limitations are the biggest obstacle to achieving one's potential. **In simple terms:** You are your own biggest barrier. Key Takeaway Identify and overcome internal doubts. Themes self‑belief personal growth obstacle self‑sabotage motivation Mood determined reflective Type advice motivational When to use this quote - career advancement - creative projects - fitness goals - relationship building Key Concepts psychology self‑efficacy mindset Questions to Reflect On - What internal belief holds you back? - How can you reframe self‑doubt? A Different Perspective Self‑criticism can reinforce the barrier. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Humorous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humorous/) [Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing/) [Standing Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing-greatness-3242118/) [Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing/) [Thing Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-standing-1306027/) [Witty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witty/) ## Related quotes > [I've often said, the only thing standing between me and greatness is me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-ve-often-said-the-only-thing-standing-between-me-and-greatness-is-me/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [The only thing standing between yuh & me is Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayyyoo-adrii/the-only-thing-standing-between-yuh-me-is-reality/) [Ayyyoo Adrii](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayyyoo-adrii/) > [“The only thing standing between greatness and me, is me.’ WOODY ALLEN”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-green/the-only-thing-standing-between-greatness-and-me-is-me-woody-allen/) [Carrie Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-green/) > [“The only thing standing between you and your greatness is one or two habits. Begin to change one and watch the magic begin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/the-only-thing-standing-between-you-and-your-greatness-is-one-or-two/) [Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/) > [This guy goes to a psychiatrist and says, Doc, my brother’s crazy. He thinks he’s a chicken. The doctor says, Well, why don’t you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/this-guy-goes-to-a-psychiatrist-and-says-doc-my-brother-s-crazy-he/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I was thrown out of college for cheating on the metaphysics exam; I looked into the soul of the boy sitting next to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-was-thrown-out-of-college-for-cheating-on-the-metaphysics-exam-i/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I'm not a drinker, my body won't tolerate...eh...spirits, really. 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That's my second favorite organ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/my-brain-that-s-my-second-favorite-organ/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [The last woman I was in was the Statue of Liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/the-last-woman-i-was-in-was-the-statue-of-liberty/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [“You could only ever see a thing when you were standing outside of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/you-could-only-ever-see-a-thing-when-you-were-standing-outside-of-it/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [“The only thing standing between you and your dreams is ... reluctance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-bryant/the-only-thing-standing-between-you-and-your-dreams-is-reluctance/) [Carroll Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-bryant/) > [The only thing standing in between you and me is reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-thing-standing-in-between-you-and-me-is-reality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm way to smart to be the only thing standing in my way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azka-malik/i-m-way-to-smart-to-be-the-only-thing-standing-in-my-way/) [Azka Malik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azka-malik/) > [You are far too smart to be the only thing standing in your way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-freeman/you-are-far-too-smart-to-be-the-only-thing-standing-in-your-way/) [Jennifer Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-freeman/) > [There is no such thing as standing still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heber-j-grant/there-is-no-such-thing-as-standing-still/) [Heber J. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heber-j-grant/) ## More by Woody Allen > [“True, science has conquered many diseases, broken the genetic code, and even placed human beings on the moon, and yet when a man of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/true-science-has-conquered-many-diseases-broken-the-genetic-code-and/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Bisexuality immediately doubles your chances for a date on Saturday night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/bisexuality-immediately-doubles-your-chances-for-a-date-on-saturday/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [In every generation there are a few people who are authentically funny. The cosmetics change. You may not be able to articulate it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/in-every-generation-there-are-a-few-people-who-are-authentically/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I think Frank Capra was a much craftier filmmaker, a wonderful filmmaker. He had enormous technique, and he knew how to manipulate the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-think-frank-capra-was-a-much-craftier-filmmaker-a-wonderful/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [The food here is terrible, and the portions are too small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/the-food-here-is-terrible-and-the-portions-are-too-small/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Gauguin flew into a frenzy! 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And not only food: frequently there must be a beverage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/why-does-man-kill-he-kills-for-food-and-not-only-food-frequently/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [A stockbroker is someone who invests other people's money until it is all gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/a-stockbroker-is-someone-who-invests-other-people-s-money-until-it-is/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Man cannot live by bread alone. Every once in awhile he needs a salad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/man-cannot-live-by-bread-alone-every-once-in-awhile-he-needs-a-salad/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [All literature is a footnote to Faust. I have no idea what I mean by that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/all-literature-is-a-footnote-to-faust-i-have-no-idea-what-i-mean-by/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [There are two important things in the world, the first is sex. The other isn't all that important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/there-are-two-important-things-in-the-world-the-first-is-sex-the/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [You can't ride two horses with one behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/you-can-t-ride-two-horses-with-one-behind/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Is old age really so terrible? Not if you've brushed your teeth faithfully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/is-old-age-really-so-terrible-not-if-you-ve-brushed-your-teeth/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) [Explore all 935 Woody Allen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) ## More Greatness quotes > [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Every man who is high up likes to think that he has done it all himself, and the wife smiles and lets it go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-man-who-is-high-up-likes-to-think-that-he-has-done-it-all/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, straghtforward men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/what-we-shall-need-is-not-geniuses-or-cynics-or-misanthropes-or/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“The power of imagination is strongest in the place of solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-power-of-imagination-is-strongest-in-the-place-of-solitude/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“You are destiny for greatness. Your future is in the hands of the Lord.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/you-are-destiny-for-greatness-your-future-is-in-the-hands-of-the-lord/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/we-need-to-discover-all-over-again-that-worship-is-natural-to-the/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Nothing brings out the lower traits of human nature like office-seeking. Men of good character and impulses are betrayed by it into all sorts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/nothing-brings-out-the-lower-traits-of-human-nature-like-office/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [Men generally decide upon a middle course, which is most hazardous, for they know neither how to be entirely good nor entirely bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-generally-decide-upon-a-middle-course-which-is-most-hazardous-for/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Every man remembers his childhood as a kind of mythical age, just as every nation's childhood is its mythical age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-leopardi/every-man-remembers-his-childhood-as-a-kind-of-mythical-age-just-as/) [Giacomo Leopardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-leopardi/) > [Greatness is not guarding yourself from people. Greatness is being accepted by the people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/greatness-is-not-guarding-yourself-from-people-greatness-is-being/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [The superior man is distressed by his want (lack) of ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-is-distressed-by-his-want-lack-of-ability/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Great men don't 'move to the center' - great men move the center!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/great-men-don-t-move-to-the-center-great-men-move-the-center/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [Perfection is the enemy of greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/perfection-is-the-enemy-of-greatness/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [Men want a challenge, but they want a challenge they can win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-gaskell/men-want-a-challenge-but-they-want-a-challenge-they-can-win/) [Whitney Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-gaskell/) [Browse all 7,631 Greatness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only thing standing between me and greatness is me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Woody Allen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/the-only-thing-standing-between-me-and-greatness-is-me/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Greatness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/the-only-thing-standing-between-me-and-greatness-is-me/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b66/woody-allen-176_greatness_the-only-thing-standing-between-me-and-g_2771020.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b66/woody-allen-176_greatness_the-only-thing-standing-between-me-and-g_2771020.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b66/woody-allen-176_greatness_the-only-thing-standing-between-me-and-g_2771020.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only thing standing between me and greatness is me.” — Woody Allen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Woody Allen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The only thing standing between me...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/the-only-thing-standing-between-me-and-greatness-is-me/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/the-only-thing-standing-between-me-and-greatness-is-me/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```